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Biomedical subjects

S H Han

Publications and source records attributed to S H Han.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Isolation and partial characterization of Bermuda grass pollen allergen, BG-60a.

In an earlier study we showed that Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) pollen contains at least 12 IgE-binding proteins that can be analysed by immunoblot technique. One of the active components (BG-60) proved to be a basic protein of glycoprotein nature. It contained about 28% carbohydrate as determined from the dry weight and consisted of four molecules. One of the components was purified from the pollen extract by a combination of ammonium sulphate precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography on carboxymethyl-TSK, gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA 44 and chromatofocusing. Its molecular weight was approximately 60 kD by SDS-PAGE and 34 kD by gel filtration chromatography. The isoelectric point of the antigen was about 9.7. The homogeneity of the antigen BG-60a was assessed by one single arc of immunoprecipitation both in immunodiffusion and crossed immunoelectrophoresis and by one single band after SDS-PAGE. Its allergenicity was demonstrated by direct intradermal skin test on allergic patients and by examining IgE-binding reactivity with allergic patients' serum.

Adolescent↗

A unique human IgE-binding epitope on the Bermuda grass pollen recognized by mouse lambda-type monoclonal antibodies.

A group of six mouse monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) with the unusual lambda-type light chain were generated by fusion of NS-1 cells with splenic cells derived from BALB/c mice immunized with crude extracts of Bermuda grass pollen (BGP). Four of them were IgG1, one was IgG2b, and one was IgG3. Binding inhibition assay showed that they recognized the same (or very similar) epitope. Using sera from BGP-allergic patients, it was found that the specific binding between the IgE antibodies and the MoAb 26-11-fixed antigen could be blocked by MoAb 26-11 itself and another MoAb 9-13 in a dose-dependent manner. It appears that the epitope recognized by the lambda-type MoAbs is a human IgE-binding antigenic determinant. Further physico-chemical analyses showed that this epitope was stable under heat but sensitive to treatments of sodium periodate and proteinase K. Results from these studies indicate that this unique epitope which leads to the generation of lambda-type MoAbs is part of a glycoprotein.

Animals↗

The 40-kilodalton allergen of Candida albicans is an alcohol dehydrogenase: molecular cloning and immunological analysis using monoclonal antibodies.

To characterize the 40-kilodalton (kD) major allergen of Candida albicans (C. albicans), six monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against this allergen were generated. In SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis, these MoAbs showed four different reaction patterns to antigens of six different Candida species. With the exception of one MoAb, other MoAbs were resistant to periodate treatment indicating non-carbohydrate epitopes were probably being recognized by these MoAbs. These MoAbs were used in the molecular cloning and immunological analysis of the gene coding for the 40-kD allergen. Nucleotide sequence determination of the two lambda gt11 cDNA clones obtained showed that the 40-kD allergen is an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) which shares a 70% amino acid sequence homology with the ADH isozyme I of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This finding was confirmed by positive immunological response of the lysates of the clones obtained and a preparation of ADH of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to various MoAbs and to IgE antibodies in sera of allergic patients.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

Analysis of allergenic components of Bermuda grass pollen by monoclonal antibodies.

A panel of 16 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) directed against Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) pollen (BGP) were generated for identification and purification of the major allergenic components of the eliciting antigen (Ag). Radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP) analysis revealed that there were at least eight antigenic components with molecular weights (MW) ranging from 12 kilodalton (12 kDa) to 200 kDa. Each of these components has distinct biochemical characteristics based on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and isoelectric focusing (IEF). Among them, Cyn d Bd67K and Cyn d Bd58K were basic proteins, Cyn d Bd35K consisted of at least four isomeric components with isoelectric points ranging from 6.2 to 7.2. The other antigens (Cyn d Bd68K, 48K, 38K, Cyn d Bd200K, Cyn d Bd46K, Cyn d Bd25K and Cyn d Bd12K) were all acidic proteins. The IgE binding capacity of all these antigens was determined with sera from 11 BGP-allergics by using a modified radioallergosorbent test. All but one of the antigens (Cyn d Bd200K) were found to react with human IgE from sera of BGP-allergic patients. Among those human IgE-binding molecules, Cyn d Bd35K reacted with allergic sera most frequently (10 of 11), followed by Cyn d Bd58K (8 of 11) and Cyn d Bd46K (7 of 11) respectively. Our results suggest that Cyn d Bd35K, Cyn d Bd58K, and Cyn d Bd46K are major allergens of BGP, and the MoAbs we obtained should be valuable tools for further purification of these allergens.

Allergens↗

Characterization of a monoclonal antibody (RJ5) against the immunodominant 41-kD antigen of Candida albicans.

A 41-kD component of Candida albicans was identified to be the major antigen radioimmunoprecipitated by antibodies with increased titers in the sera of patients with invasive candidiasis. A mouse monoclonal antibody (RJ5) was generated which, by immunoblotting, showed positive reactivity to the immunoprecipitated 41-kD component. By two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting, MoAb RJ5 was shown to react with different isoforms of the 41-kD component with pI values from 6.1 to 6.9. Furthermore, MoAb RJ5 showed positive reactivity to cytoplasmic antigens of C. albicans by frozen section and immunoperoxidase staining. By SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting, MoAb RJ5 showed no cross-reactivity to antigens of Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis. The epitope of the 41-kD molecule recognized by MoAb RJ5 was susceptible to treatment of proteinase K at concentrations of greater than or equal to 5 micrograms/ml, and was relatively resistant to periodate oxidation with concentration of NaIO4 up to 20 mM. This MoAb may be useful in the purification and characterization of the immunodominant 41-kD antigen of C. albicans, and as a probe in the detection of Candida antigens in the sera of patients with invasive candidiasis.

Antibodies↗

Allergenic components of Aspergillus fumigatus determined by radioimmunoprecipitation.

The allergenic components of Aspergillus fumigatus were identified using radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Sera from 20 asthmatic children with positive skin tests to A. fumigatus were used for assay. Immune complexes formed between iodinated A. fumigatus and IgE antibodies in patients' sera were precipitated by immobilized anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). The precipitates were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and analyzed by autoradiography. It was found that IgE antibodies in the sera of allergic individuals reacted with several allergenic components of A. fumigatus ranging from 10 to 125 kD. Proteins of 38, 33, and 68 kD were recognized by IgEs from the allergic sera with frequencies of 85%, 65%, and 40%, respectively. It appears that these are the major allergenic components of A. fumigatus.

Allergens↗

Immunoregulatory effects of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) on the proliferation of human lymphocytes.

Extracellular phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is a proinflammatory enzyme found especially in the inflammatory exudate to modulate blood flow to areas of antigen stimulation. In this study we found that PLA2 exerted a biphasic effect on the proliferation of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human mononuclear cells (PHA MNC). At low concentrations range from 0.001 to 1 U/ml, PLA2 enhanced the proliferation of PHA MNC (maximal increase was 37.0 +/- 5.67%). Conversely, at concentrations over 10 U/ml, PLA2 markedly suppressed the PHA-induced MNC proliferation (maximal decrease was 88.86 +/- 2.89%). PLA2 was non-toxic to lymphocytes after three days culture, unless the concentration was higher than 100 U/ml. The membrane polarization of PHA-stimulated lymphocytes was also increased by PLA2 at a low concentration. In addition, PLA2 displayed a similar effect on the proliferation of streptokinase-streptodornase (SK/SD) or allogeneic cell stimulated lymphocytes. The change of lymphocyte proliferation by PLA2, was parallel to the change of percentage of helper T cells. Furthermore--a CD4-rich population was proved more susceptible to PLA2 effect than a CD8-rich population. Para-bromophenacyl bromide (pBPB), an irreversible inhibitor of PLA2, abrogated the biphasic effect of PLA2 on PHA MNC proliferation. These results suggest that PLA2 plays a regulatory role on immune reactions by modulating the percentage of helper T cells.

Deoxyribonucleases↗

Defective expression of neutrophil C3b receptors and impaired lymphocyte Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

In our previous report, we demonstrated that the functions of phagocytes and lymphocytes were defective in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In an attempt to further clarify the defective mechanisms of these cells, 25 active SLE, 10 bronchial asthma patients (BA) on corticosteroids and 25 age and sex-matched normal individuals were investigated for the expression of membraneous C3b receptors, ionophore-induced 45Ca(2+)-uptake, mitochondrial potentials and phagocytic activity of neutrophils. We found decreased expression of C3b receptors on SLE PMN in both resting (37.2 +/- 3.7% of the normal controls) and FMLP-stimulated (68.3 +/- 7.1% of the normal controls) conditions, whereas the C3b receptor expression on BA-PMN receiving long-term steroid treatment was not different from normal controls. This suggests that the defective phagocytosis of SLE PMN is in the recognition, but not in the ingestion phase because of the normal function of Ca(2+)-influx and mitochondrial activity in SLE PMN. On the other hand, hyporesponsiveness to PHA stimulation (stimulation index: 127.4 +/- 46.3 in SLE vs. 311.2 +/- 30.4 in normals, p = 0.0077) was a distinct cell-mediated immune abnormality in our SLE patients. We measured the membrane potential of individual cells using 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanin and found hyperpolarization in resting SLE lymphocytes. However, the membrane polarization of SLE lymphocytes became lower than that of normal cells after PHA stimulation for 3 days. A similar tendency was also found in Na(+)-K(+)-dependent ATPase activity in SLE lymphocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

An improved scheme for the identification of antigens recognized by specific antibodies in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting.

This paper describes an improved scheme for the identification of antigens in crude extracts recognized by specific antibodies when analyzed by a combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. First, protein components in gels are electrophoretically transferred to a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane which does not shrink or change dimensions in organic solvents. The efficiency of transfer and the localization of sample proteins on the membrane are checked and recorded by staining the blotting membrane with Fast Green FCF and recording the profile on a transparency. After blocking and the immunoassay, the results are recorded by photography. The sites of immune reaction are marked and the same membrane is restained briefly with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 for the protein profile. Thus antigens in complex mixtures, recognized by antibodies of interest, can easily be identified from the restained membrane. If the whole protein profile is not well demonstrated, when used in combination with the profile recorded on the transparency, spots appearing on the restained membrane can still be used as useful landmarks in the final unequivocal antigenic identification. This improved scheme circumvents problems arising from membrane shrinkage and difficulties in accurately matching immunoreactive spots by conventional procedures and thus provides an accurate, simple and fast approach in the identification of antigens after immunoblotting.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Elevation of facilitated glucose-transporter messenger RNA in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Complementary DNA of a rat brain glucose transporter gene was used to examine the expression of glucose-transporter messenger RNA in paired human hepatocellular carcinomas and adjacent nontumorous liver tissues, as well as in human hepatoma cell lines and human fetal liver samples. High expression of a major 2.8-kilobase glucose-transporter transcript was seen in all hepatoma cell lines and fetal liver samples examined, whereas a much lower level of expression was observed in liver tissues. When pairs of liver tissues were examined, elevation of glucose-transporter RNA levels was observed in most of the hepatocellular carcinoma tissues examined.

Animals↗

Cytochrome c oxidase: decay of the primary oxygen intermediate involves direct electron transfer from cytochrome a.

The decay of the primary intermediate generated in the reaction of oxygen with cytochrome c oxidase is nearly one order of magnitude faster in the fully reduced form of the enzyme than it is in the mixed valence form. To account for this observation, we propose a model describing the early molecular events in the reaction. In this model the decay of the primary Fe-O2 intermediate in the fully reduced enzyme is a consequence of direct electron transfer from cytochrome a. To test the model we measured the time dependence of the oxidation of cytochrome a by monitoring the resonance Raman scattering intensity of its vibrational modes. A rapid oxidation of cytochrome a was detected that quantitatively agrees with the model. These results indicate that the mechanism of oxygen reduction and proposed frameworks for proton translocation must be reexamined.

Animals↗

Characterization of murine liver-derived inhibitory protein.

Murine liver-derived inhibitory protein (LIP) capable of inhibiting human lymphocyte proliferation was highly purified from liver extract. Its molecular weight determined by gel filtration and SDS-PAGE was 105,000 and 38,400 respectively. LIP moved electrophoretically at the gamma-globulin region. Its activity in inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation was temperature-stable up to 60 degrees C, and pH-stable between 4 and 11. It was not cytotoxic to lymphocytes as shown in 51Cr-release experiments. The purified LIP possessed arginase activity.

Animals↗

Evidence that an immunosuppressive protein from murine liver is arginase.

A protein (mLIP) with strong inhibitory activity on PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation was purified to homogeneity from murine liver. Both the arginase activity and the inhibitory activity were found superimposed on the same peak during gel filtration. The arginase activity of mLIP was identified by determining the arginine degradation products, urea (by alpha-diketone-urea complex formation) and ornithine (by HPLC). The inhibitory activity of mLIP was neutralized by adding more arginine to the culture medium. The mutual action between mLIP and arginine was found to be dose-related. Furthermore, the inhibition and arginase activities were simultaneously absorbed by anti-mLIP affinity column and both reappeared in the acid-eluate. These results indicate that the murine liver-derived inhibitory protein is the liver L-arginase itself.

Animals↗

Cross-reactivity among antigens of different air-borne fungi detected by ELISA using five monoclonal antibodies against Penicillium notatum.

Cross-reactivity among antigens of 12 genera of air-borne fungi, 13 species of Penicillium, and 5 species of Aspergillus was studied by ELISA using five monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against Penicillium notatum. Epitopes recognized by all the five MoAbs were susceptible to treatment of mild periodate oxidation and may therefore be associated with carbohydrates. Furthermore, our results showed that there is cross-reactivity among antigens of Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Eurotium species. By using these MoAbs, cross reactivity was not detected between antigens of Penicillium notatum and antigens of Fusarium solani, Alternaria porri, Cladosporium cladosporoides, Curvularia species, Nigrospora species, Aureobasidium pullulans, Wallemia species, Rhizopus arrhizus, and Candida albicans. Cross-reactivity among antigens of 11 species of Penicillium and 5 species of Aspergillus could be detected by ELISA using one of the five MoAbs (MoAb P15). The fact that there may be cross-reactivity among antigens of closely related fungi species should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment of mold allergic diseases.

Air Microbiology↗

Isolation and partial characterization of Bermuda grass-pollen allergen: BG-60b.

Our earlier studies have shown that the pollen of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon)-pollen contain at least 12 IgE-binding proteins which can be analyzed by the immunoblot technique. One of the highly active components was found to be a basic protein with a molecular weight of 60,000 daltons, designated as BG-60. This component was showed to consist of a group of proteins. One of them, BG-60a (pI 9.7), has been isolated and characterized. In this study, we have further isolated and characterized the second component of the antigen, designated as BG-60b. Its purity was demonstrated by gel electrophoresis experiment and antigen-antibody precipitation studies. The antigen is of glycoprotein nature with a pI of 10.0. It exhibits IgE-binding activity and shows cross-reactivity to antigen BG-60a in double diffusion. Its chemical and physical properties are similar to antigen BG-60a.

Allergens↗

Resonance Raman studies of Escherichia coli sulfite reductase hemoprotein. 1. Siroheme vibrational modes.

Resonance Raman (RR) spectra are reported for the hemoprotein subunit (SiR-HP) of Escherichia coli NADPH-sulfite reductase (EC 1.8.1.2) in various ligation and redox states. Comparison of the RR spectra of extracted siroheme and the mu-oxo FeIII dimer of octaethylisobacteriochlorin with those of mu-oxo FeIII octaethylchlorin dimer and mu-oxo FeIII octaethylporphyrin dimer demonstrates that many siroheme bands can be correlated with established porphyrin skeletal modes. Depolarization measurements are a powerful tool in this correlation, since the 45 degrees rotation of the C2 symmetry axis of the isobacteriochlorin ring relative to the chlorin system results in reversal of the polarization properties (polarized vs anomalously polarized) of bands correlating with B1g and B2g modes of porphyrin. Various SiR-HP adducts (CO, NO, CN-, SO3(2-] show upshifted high-frequency bands, characteristic of the low-spin state and consistent with the expected core size sensitivity of the skeletal modes. Fully reduced unliganded SiR-HP (both siroheme and Fe4S4 cluster reduced) in liquid solution displays RR features comparable to those of high-spin ferrous porphyrins; on freezing, the RR spectrum changes, reflecting an apparent mixture of siroheme spin states. At intermediate reduction levels in solution a RR species is observed whose high-frequency bands are upshifted relative to oxidized and fully reduced SiR-HP. This spectrum, thought to arise from the "one-electron" state of SiR-HP (siroheme reduced, cluster oxidized), may be due to S = 1 FeII siroheme.

Binding Sites↗

Resonance Raman studies of Escherichia coli sulfite reductase hemoprotein. 2. Fe4S4 cluster vibrational modes.

Resonance Raman (RR) spectra from the hemoprotein subunit of Escherichia coli sulfite reductase (SiR-HP) are examined in the low-frequency (200-500 cm-1) region where Fe-S stretching modes are expected. In spectra obtained with excitation in the siroheme Soret or Q bands, this region is dominated by siroheme modes. Modes assignable to the Fe4S4 cluster are selectively enhanced, however, with excitation at 488.0 or 457.9 nm. The assignments are confirmed by observation of the expected frequency shifts in SiR-HP extracted from E. coli grown on 34S-labeled sulfate. The mode frequencies and isotopic shifts resemble those seen in RR spectra of other Fe4S4 proteins and analogues, but the breathing mode of the cluster at 342 cm-1 is higher than that observed in the other species. Spectra of various ligand complexes of SiR-HP reveal only slight sensitivity of the cluster terminal ligand modes to the presence of exogenous heme ligands, at variance with a model of ligand binding in a bridged mode between heme and cluster. Close examination of RR spectra obtained with siroheme Soret-band excitation reveals additional 34S-sensitive features at 352 and 393 cm-1. These may be attributed to a bridging thiolate ligand.

Escherichia coli↗

Resonance Raman studies of Escherichia coli sulfite reductase hemoprotein. 3. Bound ligand vibrational modes.

The vibrations of the bound diatomic heme ligands CO, CN-, and NO are investigated by resonance Raman spectroscopy in various redox states of Escherichia coli sulfite reductase hemoprotein, and assignments are generated by use of isotopically labeled ligands. For the fully reduced CO complex (ferrous siroheme, reduced Fe4S4 cluster) at room temperature, nu CO is observed at 1904 cm-1, shifting to 1920 cm-1 upon oxidation of the cluster. The corresponding delta FeCO modes are identified at 574 and 566 cm-1, respectively, by virtue of the zigzag pattern of their isotopic shifts. In frozen solution, two species are observed for the cluster-oxidized state, with nu CO at 1910 and 1936 cm-1 and nu FeC at 532 and 504 cm-1, respectively; nu FeC for the fully reduced species is identified at 526 cm-1 in the frozen state. For the ferrous siroheme-NO complex (cluster oxidized), nu NO is identified at 1555 cm-1 in frozen solution and a low-frequency mode is identified at 558 cm-1; this stretching mode is significantly lower than that observed in Mb-NO. For the ferric siroheme cyanide complexes evidence of two ligand-bonding forms is observed, with modes at 451/390 and 451/352 cm-1; they are distinguished by a reversal of the isotopic shift patterns of the upper and lower modes and could arise from a linear and a bent Fe-C unit, respectively. For the ferrous siroheme cyanide complex isotope-sensitive modes observed at 495 and 452 cm-1 are assigned to the FeCN- bending and FeC stretching vibrations, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Carbon Isotopes↗